HSE Mid West has announced a series of free community MMR clinics, in response to rising cases of measles across in the Mid West and Ireland.
This is part of a renewed awareness and engagement campaign over the coming months to ensure more people, aged 12 months and older, are fully vaccinated and protected against this serious disease.
The HSE will be doing a number of education sessions at healthcare facilities and public places (including shopping centres) to promote the MMR vaccine, educate on measles, and promote our free clinics.
Due to ongoing widespread outbreaks across the UK and Europe, there is a greater risk of measles infection with international travel, particularly among babies aged under one, who have yet to get their first MMR dose. This is why we are appealing to parents travelling with young children to avail of the free MMR for babies, aged six months and older.
Public Health HSE Mid West is currently managing and investigating an outbreak of measles, involving 16 cases to date, the largest outbreak in the region since 2018. This follows widespread outbreaks across the UK and Europe in recent months.
The MMR vaccine is the only protection against measles. Two doses of MMR Vaccine in your lifetime are needed to give full protection.
Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications, particularly in children under one year of age, pregnant women, and the immunosuppressed.
The campaign focuses on delivering the MMR vaccine to key groups, who may have missed their vaccines in the past:
- Children
- Young adults
- Health and Care workers.
Those eligible are those born in Ireland from January 1st, 1978 and do not have evidence of two MMR vaccines or if born outside of Ireland and do not have evidence of two MMR vaccines at any age.
If you are planning a holiday outside Ireland, you can now get your baby vaccinated before you go. They must be between 6 and 11 months. They should then get their next dose as normal at 12 months and the final dose in junior infants.
MMR vaccines are available free of charge from GPs to all groups, but primarily to those under 18 years, and from HSE community clinics for eligible people.
Dr Kenneth Beatty, Acting Consultant in Public Health Medicine, said: “This year we have seen a significant rise in measles cases in the Mid West region, across Ireland and abroad. Measles is a highly infectious disease, which can be very serious. One in five children with measles end up in hospital, while sadly about 1 in every 1,000 cases of measles will die. The MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) Vaccine is a safe and effective method of protecting people from Measles infection. HSE agencies in the Mid West are working closely together to promote and increase uptake of this important vaccine with the next HSE Community Clinic being held in the Great National South Court Hotel, Raheen, this Saturday, July 27 between 10am and 4pm. It is so important that people who have not received an MMR vaccine in the past take this opportunity to protect themselves and their families from measles.”
Additionally, the HSE will also provide targeted clinics for specific groups including students and young people in education settings and underserved groups.
Further information about measles symptoms is available at: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/mmr-vaccine.
If you have these symptoms, please seek medical advice. Phone ahead prior to attending your GP, Emergency Department or other healthcare provider to inform the healthcare professionals that you have these symptoms, so they can make necessary arrangements. In addition, please alert medical staff if you have been in contact with someone who has measles or if you have recently travelled to an area where you know measles has been spreading.
Clinics in the Mid West will take place at the below times and dates:
Thursday, July 25th – Kilrush Health Centre – 10am to 1pm
Wednesday, July 31st – Shannon Health Centre – 10am to 12.30pm
Wednesday, July 31st – Scariff Medical Centre – 2pm to 4pm
Thursday, August 1st – Ennis Hospital – 10am to 1pm